Jill Houser
Merritt Island, FL
Flagler College

Last 5 blog entries: Secrets Cigarettes Dolphin's Cry St. Augustine The Ring III

Show latest update from from Jill's blog Secrets I have a secret and here it is: Sometimes I like to dance with you and sometimes I like to dance alone. With my hands through my hair and the biggest grin. My neck is elongated and I know you are watching me. And here is another: I already love you. Here is why: It is time. I needed a rescuer and no one else was willing. And you are either lucky. Or unfortunate. I hope you pick the first. And I will be your lover. I will be your friend. And the years before don't matter. But you will comfort me.

Jill's photos  Photos of Jill

Jill's bio: My name is Jill Houser. I'm 21 years old and I graduated from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida this April with a degree in communications (focusing on journalism). My biggest passion in life is photography. I've had a camera since I was twelve and I never leave home without one. My website is: http://www.wix.com/jillhouser/photography I heard about Bike & Build after planning a bike trip across the country with friends fell through last summer. I decided it is better to go with a group anyways and when I found this group that builds houses I was ecstatic! What an incredible thing to do! I want to raise money for Affordable Housing because I think that it is an amazing way to give back to the community.  I have a wide background in volunteering. I was raised with a mother who chose not to have a job but chose to raise four daughters and also take care of blind and handicap people in our community. So I grew up helping her with that. In 2006 I repaired homes in Mississippi after hurricane Katrina with my dad and sisters. That summer I also worked in a slum in Peru with Brio Missions. In 2007 I spent 2 months in Thailand, Burma, and Laos with Global Expeditions teaching English, planting cabbage fields, talking to lepers, and anyone who needed my help. In 2008 I spent 2 months in Kenya with CMF International in a dangerous slum. 50% of the people had AIDS. Every 30 min. a woman was raped. My camera was stolen, I got beat up by a policeman, and I saw a lot of things that still bring tears to my eyes today--but it was worth it. I wouldn't trade that summer for anything. Those people so desperately needed someone and I'm so glad that I got to be of help to them. Right now I live right beside a ghetto in St. Augustine. I've not been involved yet with Habitat for Humanity here but I've heard that they are very involved in this city. Next semester I have a very large senior project to do right before graduation and I've been thinking that I will do it on Habitat for Humanity's involvement here in St. Augustine. I am so very excited to bike across the county because everyone I’ve told is like, "Your crazy!" And I'm like, "I know!" God has really blessed me by allowing me to do a lot of incredible things with my life but biking to California is one that I desperately hope to check off the list this summer. I was inspired to pursue doing this crazy adventure after a web search last year where I first discovered that this is something that people actually do! And to get to do this for a cause is overwhelming in the very best kind of way.

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